Which of the following activities

can help you narrow down your
research topic?
Write down a list of key
words.
Search for the topic in a
database.
Use Boolean search
strategies.
Develop questions about
the topic.

1 answer

All of the activities you mentioned can help narrow down your research topic, but they serve slightly different purposes. Here’s how each one contributes:

  1. Write down a list of keywords: This helps you focus on the main concepts of your topic and can guide your research by identifying the most relevant terms.

  2. Search for the topic in a database: Conducting initial searches in databases can reveal how much information is available on your topic and may point you toward more specific subtopics or angles to consider.

  3. Use Boolean search strategies: Using Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) can refine your search results, helping you narrow down to more specific articles or resources that match your interest.

  4. Develop questions about the topic: This activity encourages critical thinking and can help you identify specific aspects of a broader topic that you are interested in exploring further.

In summary, all these activities are useful for narrowing down a research topic, with each approach providing a different way to focus your research.